Staff Reports
One of Joe Biden's judicial nominees was not able to answer basic constitutional questions during a confirmation hearing.
Charnelle Bjelkengren, a Superior Court judge in Washington State, was nominated by Biden to be a US District Court judge.
During the confirmation hearing for Judge Kenneth Bjelkengren, Kennedy asked him what the Constitution's Article V says.
After a moment of hesitation, the judge said that Article V was not on her mind at the moment.
After she was finished, Kennedy asked another question about Article II.
After a long pause, Bjelkengren said she didn't know what Article II was referring to.
EMBARRASSING: Biden judicial nominee can't answer basic questions about the constitution.
“Judge, tell me what Article V of the Constitution does?” pic.twitter.com/JvnecJJJgA
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) January 26, 2023
The Constitution's Article V provides that the president has the power to make changes to the country's laws. In addition, Article II provides the Executive branch with other powers.
When asked what purposivism was, the judge said she didn't know. It is a philosophy that focuses on the spirit of the law when it comes to interpreting the written statute.
Bjelkengren worked as an attorney general for 12 years. She said she did not encounter the exact question that Kennedy asked her during her career as a judge.
"Bjelkengren noted that she is constantly faced with issues that she is not familiar with as a judge. She also thoroughly studies the law and applies the law to the facts provided to her."
Bjelkengren continued to say that she would be facing issues that she did not know about as a judge if she was confirmed. Kennedy, however, assured her that she would be able to handle them.
In 2019, Bjelkengren was appointed to the Superior Court of Spokane County. She was regarded as the first African-American woman to serve as a judge in Eastern Washington.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Valiant News.
